After India's visa restriction, China's Kunming is drawing Bangladeshi patients

Illustration: TBS

Just over a two-hour flight from Dhaka, Kunming, in China's Yunnan province, is gradually gaining popularity among Bangladeshis for its advanced and high-quality medical services. 

Patients, especially those suffering from cancer, cardiac issues and neurological conditions, are increasingly considering China as an alternative to India, Thailand and Singapore. Among Chinese cities, Kunming is being prioritised due to its relative proximity.

The Chinese government is also expanding Kunming's healthcare services to better serve countries in South Asia, including Bangladesh.

Speaking to Bangladeshi doctors and people involved in medical tourism, it appears that China offers more advanced healthcare compared to India, often at a more affordable cost. Doctors are also said to be quite sincere and caring.

However, the biggest challenge remains the language barrier. Other difficulties include accommodation, food, long waiting times for consultations at public hospitals, limited online access for appointments, and the cost of travel.

Experts say that if skilled interpreters can be ensured at the hospitals and other barriers are addressed, Kunming could become a major medical hub for Bangladeshi patients.

During a visit to Kunming on 20 June, as part of a delegation of South Asian journalists, TBS spoke with students and faculty members at Kunming Medical University.

Arifin Islam, a Bangladeshi PhD researcher studying there, shared insights about the cost and quality of medical services at the hospital.

"The cost here is similar to that of private hospitals in Bangladesh, but the quality of service is far better. Patients are required to deposit 10,000 RMB at the beginning of the treatment, which is about Tk175,000. If the full amount is not used, the remaining balance is refunded after the treatment," he said.

"The doctor's consultation fee at government hospitals is 15 RMB, which is around Tk260. This fee is the same for both Chinese and foreign nationals," Islam added.

"For a spinal surgery patient, including the operation and a hospital stay of about 10 days, the total cost could be around 10,000 RMB or slightly more — that's roughly Tk175,000. Before issuing the invitation letter, we inform the patient of the estimated cost," he further said.

Until recently, the majority of Bangladeshi patients used to go to India for medical treatment. However, due to the 2024 student-led uprising in Bangladesh and the subsequent flight and stay of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India, diplomatic tensions flared between the two countries. As a result of this political fallout, India imposed visa restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens.

"For a spinal surgery patient, including the operation and a hospital stay of about 10 days, the total cost could be around 10,000 RMB or slightly more — that's roughly Tk175,000. Before issuing the invitation letter, we inform the patient of the estimated cost."

Arifin Islam, Bangladeshi PhD researcher studying in Kunming

There is no exact data on how much Bangladeshis spend on overseas treatment. However, on 15 December, Bangladesh Bank's governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur stated that Bangladeshi citizens spend over $5 billion annually on medical treatment abroad, primarily in India and Thailand, where healthcare systems are more advanced.

After access to medical treatment in India became limited for Bangladeshi patients, pressure on healthcare services in countries like Thailand and Singapore significantly increased. Amid this shift, China began to emerge as a more affordable alternative for medical care.

In March this year, under a joint initiative by the governments of Bangladesh and China, a group of patients from Bangladesh visited Kunming. The 31-member delegation included 14 patients, along with their family members, doctors, tour operators, and journalists.

Dr Mohammad Rashedul Hassan, CEO of medical tourism company Track Medi Services, told The Business Standard, "Medical expenses in China are lower than in Thailand, and in some cases even lower than in India. Yet the healthcare system and facilities are more advanced than those in India.

"Their medical technology is highly developed, and the logistics are also quite strong," he added.

However, he pointed out that language remains a major challenge. "If we want to increase the number of Bangladeshi patients going to China, we'll need interpreters with basic medical knowledge who can communicate effectively with doctors and staff."

He also highlighted another issue: appointment delays. "If a patient flies all the way there and then has to wait two weeks or even a month for a consultation, it defeats the purpose."

Dr Hassan then emphasised the need to simplify the visa processing and reduce associated costs.

Several individuals involved in medical tourism said that unless the entire process, from travelling to Kunming from Bangladesh, accommodation, meals, treatment, and return, is made more streamlined, Chinese healthcare services will struggle to attract Bangladeshi patients. They noted that there is still a lot of work to be done in this regard.

However, they acknowledged that cancer treatment in China is highly advanced, which is why many Bangladeshi cancer patients are showing interest in hospitals in Kunming and other provinces of China.

According to Seok Healthcare, a Dhaka-based medical tourism company, more than 20 patients are currently waiting to travel to China, with half of them headed for Kunming.

MM Masumuzzaman, CEO of Seok Healthcare, told The Business Standard, "Considering both the cost and the quality of treatment, China is a good alternative for Bangladeshi patients. But the main obstacle is language."

He added, "Food, accommodation, and delays in getting appointments are also issues. For instance, if a cancer patient has to wait seven to ten days just to get a PET CT scan appointment, it significantly increases the overall cost."

Several patients under his company's guidance have already received treatment in China and returned to Bangladesh, and their feedback has been positive, he said.

"There are Bangladeshi students studying in China who can work as interpreters," he added. "But they must have a basic understanding of medical terms to assist effectively."

However, business leaders are not seeing these challenges as major roadblocks.

Md Khorshed Alam, former acting president of the Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI), told The Business Standard, "In the future, China could become a strong alternative for Bangladeshi patients seeking medical care."

He said, "There are many Bangladeshis living in China who can serve as interpreters. And once the number of patients increases, many of the current issues will naturally start to resolve."

He also mentioned that plans are underway to open service centres in Dhaka for Chinese hospitals, similar to the Mount Elizabeth Hospital service centre for Singapore in Dhaka. "We're working on making it possible for patients to access all kinds of services from here," he said.

According to him, medical treatment and medicine costs in China are relatively low, and the quality of care is high.

Lie Yajie, Dean of the International Education School at Kunming Medical University, told The Business Standard's correspondent, "With China stepping in at this time, many see the country as a viable alternative for Bangladeshi patients seeking quality healthcare."

He also sees Kunming as a good option for Bangladeshi medical students.

"We have some most excellent students from Bangladesh," he said, adding, "They have a very bright future, not only for Bangladesh but also for China."

Four hospitals in Kunming are currently available for Bangladeshi patients: the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Fuwai Yunnan Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital (TCM). Of these, three are state-run.